With the fall season typically comes strong fall winds. Accounting for the wind and the substantial debris caused by falling leaves, homeowners need to get their house ready for the winter months ahead. Prevention is key in preventing possible issues down the line and ensuring everything stays in order.
This article provides some important fall roof maintenance tips to help homeowners prepare their residential roofs for the coming colder months.
6 Important Fall Roof Maintenance Tips
Roof care is especially essential in the fall as it ensures your residence has adequate protection against severe winter ice and snow. In case of roof damages, you should contact Gold Star Roofing to handle the project for you. The following are roof maintenance tips to keep your residential roofing durable and last as long as possible:
1. Visual Inspection Is Necessary
An external, visual examination of your roof is an ideal starting point for roof maintenance routines. You should climb to the top of your roof and look for missing shingles or other issues that may lead to damage or leaks. You can handle this step on your own or contact a qualified roofing specialist like Gold Star Contracting to come around for inspection if it is not something you can do.
Note the region around chimneys and vents, as well as the roof’s margins. Don’t forget to inspect for holes, rips, disintegrating materials, buckles, bulges, curling, and places where the roofing is peeling away at the edges. In case you have a flat roof, check for any water pooling that has formed. If you are unsure what to look for, contact the professionals at Gold Star Contracting for advice – anything out of the usual may be a reason for worry.
2. Trim The Trees
When leaves starting shedding all over, tree limbs might appear to be somewhat encroaching the house vicinity. Cut those branches before they eventually pose a threat to your roof. Doing this as fall is just starting might also help curtail the number of leaves that clog your guttering system.
3. Have Your Gutters Cleaned
To ensure water flows off the roofline properly, you will need to keep your gutters clean. It is critical to ensure that debris does not accumulate on your home’s roof or gutters. Clogged gutters will cause water to bounce back onto the roof, causing cracking, mildew, and other damage.
Before the autumn leaves begin to fall, clean up your gutters and keep an eye on them throughout the season. If you reside in windy areas, it is advisable to check them more often than usual. Check the drains and spouts for any blockages that may be obstructing water flow.
4. Put Gutter Guards In Place
Gutter guards are quite inexpensive, and they will save you a lot of time when it comes to cleaning up your gutters. These simple caps cover the gutter structure to keep leaves out. Small holes in the caps allow water to enter, but big debris will only get dried and come off. This reduces your cleaning efforts significantly.
5. Perform Any Required Repairs Immediately
If your roof inspector says you need repairs done on a specific area of your roof, ensure you do it as soon as possible. Before the wet, cold weather arrives, now is the time to handle maintenance and repairs. Small issues in the fall may quickly escalate into major issues in the winter, so it is advisable to go into the cold season with a robust, solid roof. You will worry less about high repair expenses by keeping your roof well-maintained over the year.
An annual maintenance and inspection schedule may help your roof last for many years to come. Checking for damage and debris takes just a few minutes, and the time invested is well worth it for peace of mind.
6. Warm Up Your Roof
Since winter follows fall, preparing your roof is part of the maintenance process. This entails doing everything possible to avoid ice dams, which develop when snow accumulates on the roof and inhibits adequate runoff drainage.
Residential and multifamily roofing systems may be severely harmed by the freeze/thaw cycle. As ice builds up on the roof, it adds weight, which may compromise its structural integrity or possibly destroy the membrane.
You must also be wary of “scrubbing.” Scrubbing occurs when ice travels over the roof as a result of temperature fluctuations, damaging the membrane. There is also the issue of your roof’s age and present state; an older, compromised roof is more prone to taking a beating from freeze and thaw.
Your roofer may perform preliminary work to guarantee that the roofing system can withstand wet and cold weather. The easiest and most cost-effective method to maintain your residential roof in good shape is preventative maintenance. With appropriate upkeep and care, your roof may last decades with the right contractor. You may save money on repair and replacement expenses in the long run through regular maintenance.
Fall Is Coming: Are You Prepared?
People have a habit of neglecting their roof system until there is an issue like leakages in the building. Unfortunately, considerable damage to the roofing system and decking may occur without being detected.
You can trust that your roof will be prepared for fall with our qualified roofing contractors. Gold Star Roofing offers inspection and maintenance services that can help you avoid damage from roof leakages, and you can anticipate your current roof to last for as long as possible.
Whether you need roof repairs, want to save on heating, or simply want to keep everything running smoothly with your roof, call us today. It’s the perfect time to prepare for fall and anticipate changes before they happen.